Inlet fill connection protector

ABSTRACT

An apparatus that is usable with an inlet port to a storage system includes a cover and a locking mechanism. The cover is adapted to, in a first state, engage the inlet port to prevent access to the inlet port and in a second state, be disengaged to release the cover from the inlet port. The locking mechanism is adapted to secure the cover in the first state.

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Serial No. 60/340,398, entitled “LET FILL CONNECTIONPROTECTOR,” filed on Dec. 7, 2001.

BACKGROUND

[0002] The invention generally relates to an inlet fill connectionprotector.

[0003] Cryogenic gas tanks typically are used for purposes oftransporting and storing liquid gas for large facilities, such ashospitals, nursing homes, pharmaceutical manufacturers, and food andbeverage production plants. Each tank typically has an inlet fillconnection, a port through which gas may be introduced to fill the gastank. In this manner, the inlet fill connection typically includes aconduit, or pipe, that has an open end for receiving the gas. The openend of the pipe typically receives a dust cap that is threadablyconnected to the end of the pipe to close the open end when the tank isnot being filled. Typically, no special tools are required to remove thedust cap, as the cap may be simply removed in most cases by hand.

[0004] A difficulty with the above-described arrangement is thatcontaminants, such as biological or chemical contaminants, may be easilyintroduced into the inlet fill connection without detection or anyindication of unauthorized entry. In this manner, if the dust cap isremoved and these biological or chemical contaminants are placed in theinlet fill connection, a driver filling the tank may be unaware of theirpresence. Thus, the driver filling the tank may unknowingly pump thecontaminants into the tank. Therefore, the ease at which one may accessthe inlet fill connection may present a direct health and/or safetyrisk. Furthermore, the entire gas piping system at an affected facilitymay be condemned due to the introduction of such contaminants throughthe inlet fill connection.

[0005] Thus, there is a continuing need for an arrangement thataddresses one or more of the problems that are stated above.

SUMMARY

[0006] In an embodiment of the invention, an apparatus that is usablewith an inlet port to a storage system includes a cover and a lockingmechanism. The cover is adapted to, in a first state, engage the inletport to prevent access to the inlet port and in a second state, bedisengaged to release the cover from the inlet port. The lockingmechanism is adapted to secure the cover in the first state.

[0007] Advantages and other features of the invention will becomeapparent from the following description, drawing and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0008]FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an inlet fill connectionprotector and a gas supply system according to an embodiment of theinvention.

[0009]FIGS. 2 and 3 are perspective views of the protector of FIG. 1 ina closed state according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0010]FIG. 4 is an end view of the protector in an open state accordingto an embodiment of the invention.

[0011]FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the protector in aclosed state according to an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0012] Referring to FIG. 1, an embodiment of an inlet fill connectionprotector 20 in accordance with the invention is adapted to be locked toan inlet port, or inlet fill connection, of a gas supply storage and/orsupply system 10 for purposes of preventing unauthorized access to theinlet fill connection. As examples, the system 10 may store and/orsupply one of more of the following gases: oxygen, nitrogen, argon,carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide.

[0013] The advantages that are associated with the protector 20 mayinclude one or more of the following. The protector 20 prevents theintroduction of contaminants into the gas storage and supply system. Theprotector 20 is not easily removed without the application of extremeforce. Therefore, the destruction of or an attempt to destroy theprotector 20 would easily be detected and flag system fillers of apotential problem. The protector 20 is easily installed onto the inletfill connection and removed from the fill connection by authorizedpersonnel. The protector 20 is a low cost alternative to reducepotential health risks associated with an easily accessible inlet fillconnection. The protector 20 is relatively easy to manufacture.

[0014] In general, the protector 20 may be useful to prevent unfetteredaccess to the inlet fill connection so that gas is not introduced intothe system 10 at the wrong time. In this regard, the inlet fillconnection may be used to fill a storage tank of the system 10, and thisstorage tank, in turn, may be used to fill various gas bottles inside aparticular facility. The storage tank should not be filled while bottlesare being filled with gas from the tank. Therefore, the use of theprotector 20 on the inlet fill connection may prevent the filling of thestorage tank at an inappropriate time.

[0015] Other and different advantages may be possible.

[0016] In some embodiments of the invention, in its closed state(depicted in FIG. 1), the protector 20 is constructed to extend aroundand be secured to features of the inlet fill connection. Morespecifically, these features may include, for example, an inlet conduit12 that extends to the gas supply system 10 and a dust cap 14 that isthreaded onto an otherwise open access end of the inlet conduit 12. Asdescribed below, in its closed state the protector 20 includes an openend 50 through which the conduit 12 extends. The access end of theconduit 12 and the dust cap 14 extend inside of the protector 20, and asdescribed below, the open end 50 is sized to prevent the dust cap 14from passing through the opening 50 when the protector 20 is in theclosed state should someone attempt to pull the protector 20 off of theconduit 12. With the protector 20 in its closed state, access to thedust cap 14 is prevented, as the protector 20 fully encloses the accessend of the conduit 12.

[0017] In some embodiments of the invention, a lock 30 (a padlock or acombination lock, as examples) secures the protector 20 so that theprotector 20 remains in its closed state, a state in which the lock 30prevents the protector 20 from being removed (and thus, prevents accessto the inlet fill connection). When the lock 30 is unlocked, theprotector 20 may be transitioned to its open state, a state in which theprotector 20 may be removed from the inlet fill connection.

[0018] Referring also to FIG. 2, in some embodiments of the invention,the protector 20 includes two shells 40 and 42. Each shell 40, 42 has aC-shaped cross-section. When the protector 20 is closed about theconduit of the inlet fill connection, the protector 20 forms a generallycircularly cylindrical cover, or collar, that circumscribes the conduit23 and the dust cap 14. Thus, each shell 40, 42 forms one half of agenerally circularly cylindrical collar that circumscribes the dust cap14 and the access end of the conduit 12. For purposes of locking theprotector 20 closed, the shell 40 includes a tab 54 that extends in aradially outward direction, and the shell 42 includes a tab 56 thatextends in a radially outward direction. In this manner, the tabs 54 and56 are slightly offset from each other when the shells 40 and 42 areunited in the protector's 20 closed state so that in this closed statean opening 73 in the tab 54 aligns with an opening 75 in the tab 56. Alocking bar of the lock 30 (see FIG. 1) may be inserted through thesealigned openings 73 and 75 to secure the shells 40 and 42 together andlock the protector 20 in its closed state. In other embodiments, thetabs 54 and 56 may be replaced by a variety of other locking tabs,hardware or devices.

[0019] In the protector's closed state, the shells 40 and 42 form anannular obstruction that defines the size of the opening 50. Referringalso to FIG. 5, in this manner, near the end of the protector 20 closestto the gas storage and supply system 10, the shell 40 extends in aradially inward direction to form a half ring 80 that forms one half ofthe obstruction 82, and the shell 42 extends in a radially inwarddirection to form an opposing half ring 82 that forms the other half ofthe obstruction 82. The diameter of the opening 50 is slightly greaterthan the outer diameter of the conduit 12 but less than the outerdiameter of the dust cap 14. Therefore, when the shells 40 and 42 unitein the protector's closed state, the protector 20 cannot be pulled awayfrom the inlet fill connection, as the inner annular shoulder 15 of thedust cap 14 abuts the annular obstruction that is formed from the halfrings 80 and 82. As depicted in FIG. 5, the inner diameter of the collarformed from the shells 40 and 42 is sufficient to accommodate the outerdiameter of the dust cap 14.

[0020] As depicted in FIG. 5, the protector 20 includes a closed end 52that prevents access to the dust cap 14 from the protector's far end(i.e., the end of the protector 20 farthest from the gas supply system10). The closed end 52 also prevents an unauthorized person from slidingthe protector 20 along the conduit 12 toward the gas supply system 10and over the dust cap 14 for purposes of gaining access to the inletfill connection. In some embodiments of the invention, the closed end 52is formed from a circular end cap of the shell 40. In this manner, thiscircular end cap has approximately the same diameter as the outerdiameter of the circularly cylindrical collar that is formed from theunited shells 40 and 42. The end cap extends from the shell 40 near theouter end of the protector 20 to close off this end from access.

[0021] Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, in some embodiments of the invention,the shells 40 and 42 may be joined together via a hinge 70 thatpivotably connects two longitudinal edges of the shells 40 and 42together. In this manner, the shells 40 and 42 may be pivoted betweenthe closed state (of the protector 20) that is depicted in FIGS. 1, 2, 3and 5, and the open state (of the protector 20) that is depicted in FIG.4.

[0022] As can be seen from FIG. 4, the protector 20 is assembled ontothe inlet fill connection in the following manner. In its open state,the protector 20 is placed near the end of the conduit 12 so that thedust cap 14 resides in one of the shells 40 and 42. The other shell 40or 42 may then be pivoted to unite the shells 40 and 42 around the dustcap 14 to place the protector 20 in its closed state. The locking bar ofthe lock 30 (FIG. 1) is inserted through the aligned holes 73 and 75 tolock the protector 20 in its closed state. The protector 20 may beremoved by following this procedure in reverse order. I.e., the lock 30is opened so that the locking bar of the lock 30 may be removed, and theshells 40 and 42 are rotated with respect to each other to open andremove the protector 20 from the inlet fill connection.

[0023] Thus, to summarize, the protector 20, in its closed state,engages the inlet fill connection to prevent access to the inlet fillconnection. In this state, the dust cap 14 prevents removal of theprotector 20 from the inlet fill connection. When the lock 30 isremoved, the protector 20 may be transitioned to an open state so thatthe protector 20 may be disengaged from the inlet fill connection. Thelock 30 secures the protector 20 in the closed state.

[0024] In some embodiments of the invention, the protector 20 may beformed from a metal, such as stainless steel, for example. Other metalsand other materials may alternatively be used in other embodiments ofthe invention.

[0025] Other embodiments of and uses for the protector are possible. Forexample, the above-described arrangement may be applied to tanks otherthan cryogenic tanks. For example, the protector may be used to preventaccess to an inlet fill connection of a chemical storage tank.Furthermore, the protector may be used to guard inlet fill connectionsof transport storage tanks, as well as fixed storage tanks.

[0026] In some embodiments of the invention, the protector may be madefrom sheet metal that is cut at the appropriate places and formed intothe appropriate places to create the shells 40 and 42 and other parts ofthe protector. In some embodiments of the invention, the cylinder thatis formed from the closed shells 40 and 42 may be a hexagonal cylinderinstead of a circular cylinder. Thus, each shell 40, 42 may form onehalf of this hexagonal cylinder. Such a shape may be advantageous forpurposes of making the protector from formed sheet metal. Other shapesfor the protector and/or shells are possible.

[0027] Other variations on the design of the protector as well as otherapplications of use of the protector are possible.

[0028] While the invention has been disclosed with respect to a limitednumber of embodiments, those skilled in the art, having the benefit ofthis disclosure, will appreciate numerous modifications and variationstherefrom.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus usable with an inlet port to astorage system, comprising: a cover adapted to, in a first state, engagethe inlet port to prevent access to the inlet port and in a secondstate, be disengaged to release the cover from the inlet port; and alocking mechanism adapted to secure the cover in the first state.
 2. Theapparatus of claim 1, wherein the cover comprises: a hinge; a firstshell connected to the hinge; and a second shell connected to the hinge,wherein the first and second shells pivot about the hinge to transitionbetween the first state and the second state.
 3. The apparatus of claim2, wherein the first shell and the second shell form a cylinder inresponse to the cover being in the first state.
 4. The apparatus ofclaim 1, wherein the inlet port comprises a pipe having a first openingand a cap covering the opening, and the cover forms an opening in thefirst state to receive a pipe of the inlet port, the opening being sizedto prevent the cap from passing through the opening in response to thecover being in the first state.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein thelocking mechanism comprises one of a padlock and a combination lock. 6.The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the conduit provides communicationwith a gas storage system.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein thecover is adapted to extend at least partially around the inlet port andengage a cap secured to the inlet port in response to an attempt toremove the cover from the inlet port when the cover is in the firststate.
 8. A system comprising: a gas storage subsystem comprising aninlet port; and a cover adapted to have a first state in which the coverprevents access to the inlet port and a second state in which the coveris no longer secured to the inlet port.
 9. The system of claim 8,further comprising: a locking mechanism to secure the cover in the firststate.
 10. The system of claim 8, wherein the cover comprises a collarcomprising: a hinge; a first shell connected to the hinge; and a secondshell connected to the hinge, wherein the first and second shells pivotabout the hinge to transition between the first state and the secondstate.
 11. The system of claim 10, wherein the first shell and thesecond shell form a cylinder in response to the cover being in the firststate.
 12. The system of claim 8, wherein the inlet port comprises apipe having a first opening and a cap covering the opening, and thecover forms an opening in the first state to receive a pipe of the inletport, the opening being sized to prevent the cap from passing throughthe opening in response to the cover being in the first state.
 13. Thesystem of claim 8, wherein the cover is adapted to extend at leastpartially around the inlet port and engage a cap secured to the inletport in response to an attempt to remove the cover from the inlet portwhen the cover is in the first state.
 14. A method comprising: placing acover in a first state to prevent access to an inlet port of a storagesystem; placing the cover in a second state to remove the cover from theinlet port; and locking the cover to secure the cover in the firststate.
 15. The method of claim 14, further comprising: pivoting a firstsection of the cover with respect to a second section of the cover totransition the cover between the first state and the second state. 16.The method of claim 14, positioning the cover on the inlet port to causethe cover to engage a cap of the inlet port when the cover is in thefirst state to prevent the cover from being removed from the inlet port.17. The method of claim 14, further comprising: joining two halfcylinders together over a pipe of the inlet port to secure the cover tothe inlet port.
 18. An apparatus usable with an inlet pipe to a gasstorage system, comprising: a hinge; a first shell connected to thehinge; a second shell connected to the hinge and comprising an end cap,the second shell being pivoted with respect to the first shell about thepipe to cover an opening of the pipe in a first state of the apparatusin which the first shell and the second shell are closed together aroundthe pipe; and a locking mechanism adapted to secure the first shell tothe second shell in the first state of the apparatus.
 19. The apparatusof claim 18, wherein the locking mechanism is releasable to permit thefirst and second shells to be pivoted apart from each other to permitthe end cap from being removed from proximity of the opening of thepipe.